performing bach

[BoliverAllmon]

how far is too far in interpretation of Bach? Slight rubato? adding of notes? adding ornaments? where is the line drawn in your eye?

[xvimbi]

Here is what I am willing to "put up with"

- removing or adding ornaments
- adding/removing notes (not too many)
- shifting notes/phrases by entire octaves
- swapping bass with soprano/tenor
- tempi anywhere from very slow to very fast
- some rubato
- varying dynamics
- use of left and right pedals
- repeats must be played differently
- not playing all the inventions in sequence
- combining different pieces to make larger ones (particularly for minuets)

So, pretty much anything goes for me, as long as it's done with "taste"

[BoliverAllmon]

those kind of remarks are what I like to hear.

boliver

[puma]

LMAO at xvimbi, I think that when it comes to interpretation, if you have worked on your musicality, you can get away with more.

[xvimbi]

LMAO at xvimbi, I think that when it comes to interpretation, if you have worked on your musicality, you can get away with more.

I am not sure I understand what you are trying to say

[bravuraoctaves]

I do anything that sounds good. The baroque directions are usually quite lax.

I say anything done with good taste is good. Bad rubato and phrasing is unnacceptable.

[rebel1ns]

phrasing is real important, and bring out the voices...and also remember the imitations; i dunno in every bach piece ive played so far theres been tons of imitation scattered throughout

[whynot]

I'm pretty much with Xvimbi's list.  I do very little rubato, and make sure I really want it when I do it-- not because I'm against rubato in Bach per se, but because I think almost EVERYONE uses way too much rubato in EVERYTHING.  I like a natural undulation in the course of a piece, but not enough to be (artificially) sentimental and manipulative... hey, I think I got off track.  Lots and lots of extras on the repeats in Bach are fun, not just standard ornaments but also filling in intervals, adding little scalar flourishes, fleshing out the chords more often.  I believe he would have loved the modern piano with all its colors and possibilities.  I play some harpsichord, and play that quite differently, but I really love it on piano too.